Students from App State’s Department of Communication recently accepted two awards from The Broadcast Education Association (BEA) 2026 Festival of Media Arts in Las Vegas, NV, a highly selective, juried international competition. The awards were presented at BEA’s annual convention on Sunday, April 19, 2026.
Sound Engineering and Production
Brock Herring, a senior Electronic Media/Broadcasting major, received the 2nd Place award in the Sound Engineering and Production Category of the Student Audio Competition. Herring submitted a portion of the Sweet’n’Creek episode (5:49) of Corner Concerts. The Sound Engineering & Production category consists of studio music recordings and live sound production/recording from the perspective of an audio engineer or producer. The evaluation process takes into consideration the technical and aesthetic principles of sound engineering as well as the content and musical performance itself.
Inspired by NPR’s Tiny Desk Concerts, Corner Concerts made its debut in the fall of 2024. Collaboratively produced by AppTV and WASU 90.5, Corner Concerts is staged as an office concert with the goal of producing a quality of sound akin to a studio recording. This hybrid format demands constant and fast communication with bands and artists to make sure the producers use effective and efficient time management, as well as listening to and respecting the artists they work with in order to create their desired performance.
Herring said that co-producing Corner Concerts and serving as WASU 90.5’s program director has sharpened his communication skills: “Being the Program Director has forced me to communicate better leading up to events, and during them. Being the Program Director has also heightened my technical problem solving skills which is crucial in a fast paced environment, like Corner Concerts. In working with the Music Directors at WASU, I have also developed a more critical ear to what pieces should sound like, and fixing them accordingly for the best listener experience.”
Each Corner Concert episode highlights a local band and provides a platform for them to not only play their music but also to share stories about how the band was formed, what inspires them as musicians, and other fun anecdotes. Herring chose to submit Sweet’n’Creek’s song “Cedar” because he felt it was the most soulful track of the session. “Everyone in the studio was smiling and nodding their heads because we knew it was a special moment. Additionally, their Americana, folk-indie vibe pairs best with our acoustic format. For the production, I worked with the band to give them the most versatile setup I could. They were a band that switched instruments just about every song, so it was fun to accommodate that through verbal communication and having mics on standby for whatever came next.” After managing a live recording session, Herring then used his audio engineering skills to fine-tune this award-winning episode.
Diverse Programming
Kylie Karner, a senior double majoring in Electronic Media/Broadcasting and Spanish and Hispanic Studies, received an Award of Excellence in the Non-Narrative Audio Category of the Student Audio Category for Kyliente Canciones, her biweekly radio hour on WASU 90.5. The Non-Narrative Audio category consists of live audio content, particularly interview podcasts, live music or remote broadcasts, topical/discussion programs (i.e. news talk, sports talk, entertainment talk), genre-specific music programs (i.e. a “folk hour” or “local music hour”), and news or sports readers. The category is broad, which makes it very competitive; entries are evaluated and ranked based on sound quality, design and an overall live presence.
Kyliente Canciones brings Spanish-language music from various genres to an English-language alternative rock radio station. On-air, Karner shares personal connections to songs, translates song titles and lyrics to give listeners context, and explains interesting concepts related to the music she’s playing.
On the conception of her radio hour, Karner said: “I was inspired to join 90.5 WASU and create Kyliente Canciones because I wanted to try something new that would allow me to develop my broadcasting and language skills simultaneously. I love Spanish-language music and it is one of the primary ways that I maintain and develop my language skills outside of the classroom.” Producing Kyliente Canciones has provided an opportunity for Karner to improve her public speaking skills, grow her confidence in her ability to take on challenging tasks, learn more about history and genre and cultural differences, as well as spark conversations about the Spanish language and the importance of diverse programming. Karner adds that the BEA judges described the show as "enlightening", "[a] beautiful mixture of music and education", and "an interesting concept.”
In addition to accepting her award, Karner was invited to speak on a panel at BEA’s 2026 Festival of Media Arts. Karner served as AppTV’s station manager during the ‘24-’25 academic year, which is when the student-run TV station was awarded BEA’s prestigious Signature Station award. Dr. Marjorie Yambor, who the award is named after, invited AppTV's advisor Austin Bartolomei-Hill and Karner to speak on a panel named Signature Station Success Stories. Karner shares: “Austin and I reflected on our experience leading the station and what made us so successful. We shared about some of AppTV's programs, how our station is structured, and how we managed the station during Hurricane Helene. As someone who can get quite nervous about public speaking, it was a great opportunity to step outside of my comfort zone and share about our station with students and student media advisors from other universities.”
The Power of Student Travel
Hear what our students have to say about their experiences traveling as part of the Department of Communication!
“Through student travel, I feel my professional development has skyrocketed. The conference alone mustered several incredibly useful connections and resources for me. It also taught me how much networking can and should be a part of my everyday life. Having never traveled to the west coast, it greatly bolstered my dreams and expectations for myself in the future. It also helped me realize further how important teams are in not only getting stuff done professionally, but helping each other be individually successful. Overall, I am honored to have been that far from home with the opportunity to represent Appalachian State University.”
- Brock Herring ‘26, an Electronic Media/Broadcasting major graduating this spring who is pursuing a career in audio engineering in music and film
“I have loved being able to travel with App State's student media organizations during my college career. The BEA conference is such an incredible way to network with industry professionals, explore new emerging technologies, and learn from students and educators at other universities. The sessions at BEA are a fantastic way to personalize your experience at the conference by listening to presentations about niche issues by expert professionals. This year, I was able to attend sessions about many topics, including audio description and bilingual media- two topics that are very important to me and my work. I can apply what I've learned from the conference to my real work in the classroom and after I graduate. I have also made lasting connections with conference attendees, which I have found especially helpful as I near graduation. I am so incredibly grateful that I have had the opportunity to travel with the university.”
- Kylie Karner ‘26, Electronic Media/Broadcasting and Spanish and Hispanic Studies double-major graduating this spring who is pursuing a producer position in public media (dream job: PBS Kids)
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About AppTV
Launched on May 26, 2015, AppTV is Appalachian State University’s student-staffed television service. The channel is an activity of Appalachian’s Department of Communication in the College of Fine and Applied Arts. AppTV serves the department, campus and the community through development of original programming and promotion of relevant events. AppTV strives to provide a forum for community organizations and present the broadest range of ideas and issues to its viewers, while also providing a space for students to learn, grow, and challenge themselves everyday. Available on demand worldwide, AppTV is an important outlet for sharing Appalachian’s story with an international audience.
About WASU 90.5FM
For over 50 years 90.5 WASU The App has been dedicated to bringing you and the High Country the best alternative rock music! 90.5 WASU-FM is operated by students who fill a wide variety of positions across several departments, including News, Sports, Production, Programming and Sales.
About the Department of Communication
One of seven departments housed in the College of Fine and Applied Arts, the Department of Communication at Appalachian State University focuses on preparing students to succeed in the varied fields within the communication industry. The department offers five majors – Advertising, Communication Studies, Electronic Media/Broadcasting, Digital Journalism, and Public Relations – and a minor in Communication Studies. Graduates work in a wide range of positions in media, corporate, agency, government, and nonprofit organizations.
About the College of Fine and Applied Arts
Appalachian State University's College of Fine and Applied Arts is a dynamic and innovative group of seven academic departments, bringing together a variety of perspectives, experiences, and real-world education to provide unique opportunities for student success. The college has more than 3,500 undergraduate and graduate majors. Its departments are Applied Design, Art, Communication, Military Science and Leadership, Sustainable Development, Sustainable Technology and the Built Environment, and Theatre and Dance.
About Appalachian State University
As the premier public undergraduate institution in the Southeast, Appalachian State University prepares students to lead purposeful lives as global citizens who understand and engage their responsibilities in creating a sustainable future for all. The Appalachian Experience promotes a spirit of inclusion that brings people together in inspiring ways to acquire and create knowledge, to grow holistically, to act with passion and determination, and to embrace diversity and difference. Located in the Blue Ridge Mountains, Appalachian is one of 17 campuses in the University of North Carolina System. Appalachian enrolls nearly 21,000 students, has a low student-to-faculty ratio, and offers more than 150 undergraduate and graduate majors.
Students at BEA conference in Las Vegas
